Hutton's 62* at the Gabba in the early 1950s (year escapes me) was one hell of a knock on a terrible pitch, so he gets in solely based on that. Hobbs had a fantastic technique and was described as playing well on tough pitches. Similarly, Headley's reputation on sticky wickets is well renowned.

Harvey seems like a good player to be able to adjust to poor conditions, and if in doubt McCabe is included to hit out - if he comes off, he's turned the game; if not, it's another batsman back in the shed. But McCabe always came off when he was needed. Monty Noble comes in as an all-rounder used to that style of pitch.

Hirst's "we'll get 'em in singles" knock typifies the notion that he was better on tracks affording help to bowlers, and his style of bowling not be enjoyable to face on a bad track - making use of swing and seam from the left-armer's angle.

Blackham is probably the most qualified wicketkeeper in such a position, with anecdotes suggesting he'd batted and kept with distinction on pitches featuring ridges and troughs. Then the bowling attack of Verity, Underwood and Barnes would take some facing; the former mixing his impeccable line and length with sharp bounce and turn, Underwood providing the unplayable deliveries he was so well known for, and Barnes zipping the ball around both ways off the pitch at a bit above medium. Surely unplayable.

VVS Laxman is also included, probably competing with Noble, for his modern exploits on testing pitches. Hirst-Verity-Underwood-Barnes is a competent enough attack (if extremely left-armed), especially on those pitches, so Noble's bowling may be surplus to requirements.

Hutton's 62* at the Gabba in the early 1950s (year escapes me) was one hell of a knock on a terrible pitch, so he gets in solely based on that. Hobbs had a fantastic technique and was described as playing well on tough pitches. Similarly, Headley's reputation on sticky wickets is well renowned.

Harvey seems like a good player to be able to adjust to poor conditions, and if in doubt McCabe is included to hit out - if he comes off, he's turned the game; if not, it's another batsman back in the shed. But McCabe always came off when he was needed. Monty Noble comes in as an all-rounder used to that style of pitch.

Hirst's "we'll get 'em in singles" knock typifies the notion that he was better on tracks affording help to bowlers, and his style of bowling not be enjoyable to face on a bad track - making use of swing and seam from the left-armer's angle.

Blackham is probably the most qualified wicketkeeper in such a position, with anecdotes suggesting he'd batted and kept with distinction on pitches featuring ridges and troughs. Then the bowling attack of Verity, Underwood and Barnes would take some facing; the former mixing his impeccable line and length with sharp bounce and turn, Underwood providing the unplayable deliveries he was so well known for, and Barnes zipping the ball around both ways off the pitch at a bit above medium. Surely unplayable.

VVS Laxman is also included, probably competing with Noble, for his modern exploits on testing pitches. Hirst-Verity-Underwood-Barnes is a competent enough attack (if extremely left-armed), especially on those pitches, so Noble's bowling may be surplus to requirements.

Australia batted first and scored 228. But then the wicket turned into a quagmire. England were bowled out for 68 and Australia then replied with 7/32 declared. Hutton and Compton batted at No.8 and No.9 respectively in an effort to let the wicket dry out. In the end Hutton made 62 out of a team score of 122 in what has been described as one of the greatest exhibitions of defensive batting seen.

I was about to say, why aren't modern fast bowlers often selected as first choice sticky wicket bowlers? We tend to go with the 'spin-swerve' bowlers like Noble as a matter of course.

I would like to nominate Mlacolm Marshall as an obvious sticky wicket bowler. Intuition tells me that his low trajectory, combined with the ball skidding off the pitch would be a nightmare in wet conditions.

And smalishah's avatar is the most classy one by far Jan certainly echoes the sentiments of CW

Yeah we don't crap in the first world; most of us would actually have no idea what that was emanating from Ajmal's backside. Why isn't it roses and rainbows like what happens here? PEWS's retort to Ganeshran on Daemon's picture depicting Ajmal's excreta

Going with 5 batsmen and 5 bowlers. Sobers is left to concentrate on his batting. And besides, with the Don I will have the equivalent of 6 batsmen. The tail may look long but in reality everyone is extremely capable of a quick 50 except for Murali. And I have bowling to burn for all types of conditions.

Recognition of Property Rights in material objects is the recognition of a manís right to exist; his right to pursue his own goals in his own manner at his own discretion with what is rightfully his to command. Just as the Right to Life is the right to the property of oneís own person, so the right to own material products is the right to sustain oneís life and to keep the results of oneís own efforts.